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Occupational Therapy

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/10413/6716

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Browsing Occupational Therapy by Author "Govender, Pragashnie."

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    Current trends in splinting the hand for children with neurological impairments.
    (2015) Hepworth, Lauren Michelle.; Rencken, Gina.; Govender, Pragashnie.
    Aim: The study aimed to explore the current splinting practises as used as a method of intervention for improving hand function in children with neurological impairments within the South African context. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional design using an electronic selfadministered questionnaire was utilised in order to address the objectives of this study. The sample included Occupational therapists working within the paediatric neurological field in South Africa. The study sample was collected through convenience and snowball sampling in order to target therapists specifically working in the area of paediatric neurology. Results and Discussion: Forty therapists completed the survey in its entirety. Therapists splint for various reasons and are in agreement that splints can be effective in neurological cases. The 3 most prevalent splints are the functional resting, thumb abductor and anti-spasticity splint with therapists mainly splinting to maintain or improve ROM. Conclusions: This study provides an insight into the splinting practices amongst occupational therapists who work with neurologically impaired children. It shows that therapists do choose to splint despite the controversy that surrounds splinting in neurology and that many factors are considered during the decision-making process.
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    Electronic device use and fine motor dexterity and handwriting in grade 2 elementary school children.
    (2015) Keller, Monique Marie.; Govender, Pragashnie.; McIntyre, June.
    Aim: The study aimed to investigate whether a correlation exists in the electronic device usage and fine motor dexterity and handwriting in Grade 2 elementary male and female children. Methodology: A quantitative, correlation study design was utilized. Stratified sampling was employed to select n=34, grade 2 children together with their parents/primary caregivers. A parental self-administered questionnaire measured the electronic device type and frequency of use by the children. The children’s fine motor dexterity was measured with the Nine-Hole- Peg-Test and handwriting was measured with the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22. Results and Discussion: Touch screen cellular phones and standard size tablet computers were most frequently used. The mean total time per week spent on electronic devices amounted to 9.3 hours and 5.5 hours per week across all mobile devices. Statistical significant correlations were measured for; total device use and total handwriting score (rho=0.110), total device use and non-dominant hand’s dexterity (rho=0.137), weak trunk stability and handwriting speed (p=0.007), male children’s handwriting speed was superior (p=0.015) and female children’s form of handwriting was superior (p=0.005), male children used handheld videogames more than female children (p=0.001). Conclusions: A weak positive correlation exists between the total time spent on electronic device usage in a week and non-dominant dexterity and handwriting. This implies that more frequent total electronic device usage per week has a higher handwriting total score but weaker non-dominant hand dexterity as a result. No correlation existed between total usage and dominant dexterity. Gender differentials revealed that males displayed faster and superior total scores in handwriting, females displayed superior scores for form, alignment and spacing and dominant/non-dominant hands’ dexterity.